Garment workers demand pay hike

Garment workers demand pay hike

SEMARANG (JP): About 1,000 garment workers from Ungaran
regency marched to the Central Java provincial legislative
council on Wednesday, only to hear from the legislators they
could not offer them much help.

"Not only workers, but the companies where you are working are
facing difficulties during this economic crisis," provincial
speaker Ircham Abdurrochim told the surprised protesters.

Ircham said he fully agreed to their demand for a 100 percent
pay hike and freedom to set up their own labor union.

"It is better to negotiate directly with your respective
company management. What is important is that we also have to
take into account the companies' financial capabilities," said
the speaker. (nur)